Bulletin Friday 6 November 2020

New national measures in England

New national measures have come into place in England.

The measures have been introduced to reduce the chances of the virus spreading by reducing social contact

Everyone must stay at home, and may leave only for a limited set of reasons, which include:

• For education;
• For work, if you cannot work from home;
• For exercise and recreation outdoors, with your household, support bubble or on your own with one person from another household;
• For all medical reasons, appointments and to escape injury or harm;
• To shop for food and essentials;
• And to provide care for vulnerable people, or as a volunteer.

To reduce social contact, the government has ordered certain businesses and venues to close or restrict how they provide goods and services. Other businesses are permitted to stay open.

Support for the vulnerable

If you are struggling and have no family and friends you can call upon for support please call our helpline on 01204 337221.

We can help with food and essential items such as medication and offer advice.

The helpline is open Monday to Friday from 8.30am-5.30pm and Saturdays from 9am – 1pm.

If you have hearing or speech difficulties please visit www.relayuk.bt.com to use the free service to talk to us.

Guidance about shielding and protecting clinically extremely vulnerable people

The government is writing to people, who have been identified as clinically extremely vulnerable, with advice about how to stay safe from coronavirus (COVID-19).

It is advising clinically extremely vulnerable people to stay at home as much as possible, except to go outdoors for exercise or to attend essential health appointments. They should work from home, and if they cannot work from home, they should not attend work for this period of restrictions.

The guidance can be found here on the government website.

Extension of furlough scheme

The government has announced an extension of the furlough scheme until March.

Remembrance Service wreath laying

The announcement of a new measures for England to control the spread of coronavirus means that plans for Remembrance Sunday have changed.

There will be a short, virtual Remembrance service, including wreath laying, on Sunday 8 November at 10.50am that anyone can watch online.

Travel advice

National coronavirus restrictions now apply across England.

• You must stay at home and avoid travel, except for work, education, or other legally permitted reasons.
• Consider walking or cycling if you can.
• If you’re using public transport you must wear a face covering and should follow safety guidelines - keep your distance from other passengers, clean your hands frequently and use contactless payment.
• If you have to travel please plan ahead, allow extra time for your journey, consider travelling outside peak times and using quieter routes.

Visit the government’s safer travel guidance page for the latest regulations and advice on travel and transport.

Accessibility information is available from TfGM.

Face coverings in secondary schools

The government has announced additional precautions to help keep students and teachers safe when moving around school.

From today in England, pupils in Year Seven and above should wear a face covering when moving around the premises, in corridors and in communal areas where social distancing is not possible.

These measures were already in place in Bolton and other areas that were previously in the ‘High’ or ‘Very High’ local alert level.

Face coverings are not necessary for pupils in Year Six and below.

Bolton Council's Money Skills Service here to help

It’s ‘Talk Money Week’ from November 9 to 13 and Bolton Council’s Money Skills Service is here to help. 

Talk Money Week wants us to open up more about our money problems and Bolton Council’s Money Skills Service is urging people to contact them for free debt and money advice.

Recycling centres

All recycling centres will remain open and further information is available on the Recycling for Greater Manchester website.

Bolton’s Fund supporting local social enterprises

Grants of up to £25,000 are available for social enterprises in Bolton.

The Bolton’s Fund is an investment programme for the voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector in Bolton, bringing together funding from Bolton Council, NHS Bolton Clinical Commissioning Group, Bolton at Home and Bolton CVS.

The scheme launched last year and groups sizes are invited to bid for different rounds of funding, with each round targeted at addressing a key priority in the community.

Grants between £10,000 and £25,000 are available to enable early stage social enterprises to develop as well to support established enterprises improve their impact.

Illegal gathering lands Bolton woman £10,000 fine

A Bolton woman has been given a £10,000 fixed penalty notice for breaking coronavirus rules by organising an illegal gathering of around 40 people.

Greater Mancheter Police responded to reports of a party at an address on Morris Green Lane at around 10.40pm on Monday, November 2.

Bolton Council’s Executive Cabinet Member for Regulatory Services, Cllr Hilary Fairclough, said: “On behalf of the majority of Bolton residents who have followed the rules and made sacrifices to keep others safe, I am utterly appalled by this behaviour.”

Bolton libraries to remain open for essential services

Bolton Central Library and all nine community libraries across the borough will continue to offer essential services throughout lockdown.

Following the agreement of new government regulations, the council has confirmed libraries will remain open to the public for order and collect services.

Book order and collect services will continue and computers are available for critical usage and must be pre-booked.

UK Threat Level Update

The government has raised the UK Threat Level from terrorism from ‘Substantial’ to ‘Severe’. This is just a precaution following the news of another terrorist attack, this time in Vienna. However it is stressed the move is not in relation to any specific threat. Our thoughts are with the families, loved ones and emergency services personnel affected by the recent attacks in France and Austria.

Clean air and taxi licensing standards consultations: have you say

Residents have less than a month left to have their say on plans to reduce air pollution on Bolton’s roads and introduce minimum standards for our local taxi and private hire vehicles.

Two consultations are currently running across Greater Manchester and you can help shape the final plans.

Bolton Council and Transport for Greater Manchester want to hear from anyone who uses taxis to get around, as well as drivers and operators. Meanwhile if you drive a commercial vehicle which could be affected by plans for a GM Clean Air Zone – it’s important you have your say. We also want to hear from anyone who cares about improving air quality in Bolton.

Join an online choir

Adult Musical Theatre Online Choir, is being run by Bolton Music Service and will brighten up your Friday evening.

These unique sessions will help you learn techniques to enable you to sing with confidence through musical theatre songs. Whether you are a complete beginner, a musical theatre lover or want to learn more about singing then this program is for you.

The new adult Online Musical Theatre Choir is open to all abilities, for anyone who loves musical theatre and the 60 minute sessions start on Friday 6 November.

Find out more and register online. 

For the latest updates